5 players behind Real Madrid's poor form this season

#4 Sergio Ramos

Ramos has often cut a dejected figure on the pitch this season.

The Los Blancos captain must take the blame for this drab run too both as a player and as a leader. The Madrid back line has shipped goals aplenty this season and their defending has been lackadaisical at times with some poor goals conceded that don't reflect well on the reigning European Champions. They have conceded goals at roughly 1.5 times the rate of just the previous season. The centre-back pairing have been together for 5 years now, with him and Varane forming a compatible partnership with positional play and strength of Ramos complimenting the pace and Varane's tendency to stay back and not venture into higher areas of the field allowing Ramos more freedom. But that understanding has been missing from the two stalwarts on several occasions with lack of defensive fullbacks stretching them at the back.

He has also left a lot to be desired in the way he has led the team with Madrid often found sitting back on opponents and not putting them away; a careless attitude that has cost Madrid several late points against lowly opponents. His legacy as one of the great centre-backs has been enhanced by his surreal goal-scoring prowess in the air. And he has already equalled his goal tally from the previous season; helped off course by the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo from the set-pieces. With a wasteful Asensio, a waning Benzema and a conspicuous Bale upfront, it may come to his goals at the important junctures of the season.